Pick of the berry farms is a 40-year labour of love
Even after nearly 40 years of chomping on raspberries, Marilyn Smith still savours the taste of the fruits of her labour.
Smith and her husband, Grant Smith, founded Smithfield Raspberries on the outskirts of Ashburton about four decades ago on the suggestion of her brother-in-law, who owned the former Tuabridge Berry Farm.
While everyone else sat back and enjoyed their summer holiday, the Smiths knuckled down for the busiest two months of their year, pruning their 4-hectare farm for the toppings that eventually adorned Christmas pavlovas, fruit salads and icecream bowls across the region.
The farm opened on a block of bare land with dozens of rows raspberries, a few blackberries and ranui – a deep red fruit similar to a boysenberry – nearly 40 years ago.
These days, they offer pick-yourown varieties including Waiau and Selwyn raspberries, chosen for being large, juicy and extra sweet.
Working in the field is ‘‘backbending’’ work, with the raspberries requiring year-round maintenance, Marilyn Smith said. The crop’s success is heavily dependent on weather conditions.
Smith said her three children grew up in the fields and were expert pickers, but had ‘‘every excuse in the book to get out of it’’.
‘‘They always needed the toilet, or needed sunblock, or they were tired … They did all right, though, but it was a bit of a challenge.’’
Most of Smithfield’s fruit is packaged up in 125-gram punnets and carted to Christchurch, sold to Freshmax and MG Marketing, in Hornby, then distributed to supermarkets and fruit shops.
Leftovers are sold at the gate or left for customers to pick their own.
Customers visiting the on-site farm shop can buy marked-down 1-kilogram punnets or large bags of quick frozen berries.
When pressed on what makes their berries so good, Smith said her husband’s careful approach was probably the key. ‘‘He’s not great at everything, but he is quite good at growing raspberries.’’
On The Road is a series on the best places to eat, explore and enjoy in the South Island this summer. If you know of any hidden gems, email: maddison.northcott@stuff.co.nz.